Vibrator



W. BROAD Jan. 21, 1930.

VIBRATOR Filed Oct. 19. 1926 Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES Partnr carica T 11e-.nier nomia 0F IITTSBUBQE, PENNSYLVANIA VIBRATOR Application filed October 19, 1926. Serial No. 142,593.

My invention relates broadly to vibrators and more speciiically to vibrators adapted for massaging or medical purposes, and is in the nature of an improvement over the construction disclosed in my prior' Patent No. 1,234,619, issued July 2st, 1917.

Vibrators of this type are commonly formed with an electro-magnet energized by alternating current or frequently linterrupted:

direct current for causing vibratory movements of an armature to. Which a portion of the vibrator adapted to be placed next the skin is attached. 'In such vibrators as have heretofore been known, as, for instance, that4 of my prior patent above referred to, the

vibrating portion which is adapted to be Vplaced next the skin has been at least partly oi liexible metal suitably affixed to a frame or casing. Short circuiting or grounding of connections not infrequently occurs onthe inside of the casing thereby 'passing an electric current through the metal skinfcontact, ing portion with the result that the person being massa-ged Will suffer an electric shock. By the present invention there is provided an improved form of vibrator which may be safely used Without -fear of shock or other injuring under such conditions.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section, of a. vibrator embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan View, partly in section, of the vibrator of Figure 1 With the ,cover removed; and,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line III-Ill of Figure 1, looking in the direction ot the arrows.

In carrying out the present invention there may be provided a casing of any appropriate shape and material, although I prefer td `form it as a hollow cylinder of suitable insulating material. Attached to the casing 1 by any ldesired means, such, for instance, as a 4nut Q cooperating with threaded sleeve 3 is a handle et, preferably substantially radially disposed with relation to the casing, the sleeve conveniently being threaded into `the handle. The handle 4 may be formed of any suitable material, such, for instance, as Wood or liber, and is preferably provided with an Aopening 5 extending" lere-thaise therethrough eed adapted te receive Wires. (liet Shown) fer eelr meeting" .the decitre-magnet with any Suiteble salirse efeulreat One end 0f i:he Ceeine l ie` elfesed; by a @over 6 preferably ef i11- sulatins material and,- held in pleee in any suitable manner, such as screws p.

laterierly disposed with. I'eletien. te the and fastened thereto in any suitable manner as by screws; S, l provide a segmen tal support 9Y 0f, iesuletngv materiel Atf teehed te the support 9 as by Serews .10, iS en eleetrenlegnet ll of any desired type-L Attached to the opposite side of the support 9, ee by screws. 12, iS. effiexble lnelnberl, Which eelieeeet its upper end ie. adapted te be vbrated Substantially in the dreetien 0f the aXis et the easing Carried bythe free end of the flexible mem.- ber 13 is an yangle member 15 carrying an ar-r mature 17 for actuation by the electro-magnet 11, As is apparent from Fig. 1 the ar! mature 17 in vibrating toward :and away from the electro-magnet 11 Will cause the flexible member 13 to vibrate substantially at right angles thereto.

Attached to the vibrating portion 0i ,the member 1B, as by screws which may be, and preferably are, the same screws-14 as are used to join the members 13 and 15, I provide a pad 18 of insulating material, which pad is preferably in the shapeofa disk and of such size as substantially to close the side of the `casing 1 opposite the Coveri, although any de.-

sired size and shape may be used. This pad is adapted it desired to contact With the person of the user as Well understood in the art. The vibrator may be used as a pad underneath the body or head of a patient by reason of its flat design. A considerable saving in the height of the vibrator isolata-ined by disposing the axis of the eleetromagnet parallel to the vibrating surface rather than at right an,- gles. AThe flexible member 13 is so shaped as to maintain the pad spaced from the casing throughout'its entire area.

It will be apparent that all portions of my improved Vvibrator which may, at any time, come into contact with the person being mas-` saged or with the person operating .the vibrator are perfectly insulated from the electromagnet and the armature. Therefore should any short circuit or grounding occur within the casing, all possibility of either the operator or the patient being subjected to an elec tric shock or burn is removed. The advantage of this feature over vibrators heretofore known, will be readily apparent. Although the screws 7 and 8 extend outwardly to the exterior of the vibrator, all of such screws are embedded throughout their entire length in insulating material and no possibility exists whereby they may become subjected to an electric current. i

`The present construction also provides a pad 18 free to vibrate throughout its entire area by reason of its mounting on the spring 13 and the space provided between the pad and the casing. This construction is advantageous as it makes the vibration not onlyv effective over a considerable area, but insures vibrating movements of maximum amplitiide. A double striking movement or a rocking movement of the pad 18 is secured during each vibrating movement, thereby doubling the effective frequency of the vibrator. As

the armature 17 is drawn toward the electromagnet 11 the edge of the pad 18, directly over the support 9, is tipped upwardly a suflicient amount to impart a distinct blow to the surface engaging the pad 18. A second blow is delivered when the armature 17 is released from the electromagnet 11, and the armaturecarrying or forward edge of the pad 18 moves outwardly under the force of spring 13.

IVhile I have shown and described herein a'preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is susceptible of numerous other applications and is not limited in any manner save by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A vibrator, comprising a casing of insulating material, a cover of insulating material closing said casing on one side, a support within said casing, an electro-magnet attached to said support, a resilient member attached to said support, an armature adapt? ed to be vibrated by said electro-magnet car ried by said resilient member and a vibrating member of insulating material actuated by said resilient member and adapted to substantially close the side of said casing oppositeV said cover, so that the exterior of said device is composed substantially in its entirety of insulating material.

2. A vibrator, comprising a casing of insulatiiig material vhaving substantially an open side, a hollow handle of insulating material attached to said casing, an electro-inagnet fixedly mounted within the casing, the electric connections to which are adapted to pass through said handle, ya. resilient metal member secured to said casing, an armature on said resilient member adapted to be vibrated by said electro-magnet, and a substantially flat vibrating member of insulating material on said resilient member so disposed as to substantially close the open side of said casing.

3. A vibrator, comprising a casing of insulating material, a support within the casing and near one edge thereof, an electro-magnet connected to the support, a resilient member connected externally. of thel support,an armature carried by said resilient member and adapted to be vibrated by said electromagnet, and a vibrating member of insulating material supported the resilient member externally of the casing and constituting a cover therefor. i

4. In a vibrating device, a casing, a vibrating member substantially closing one side of the casing, an electromagnet mounted in the casing in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the vibrating member, an armature for the electromagnet movable with the vibrating member, and resilient supporting means for the vibrating member and armature,.th e supporting means being of a length at least as great as half the width of the casing and attached to the vibrating member beyond the center of the vibrator and being curved, whereby diametrically opposite portions of the'vibrator are caused to oscillate about a line extending substantially through the center of the vibrating member and at substantially right angles to the axis of the supporting means.

5. In a vibrator, a casing, a vibrating member vmounted on the casing and substantially closing one side thereof, resilient supporting means extending substantially fiom one portion of the casing across the 'center thereof and secured to the vibrating member beyond the center of the casing, and means for imparting vibratory movement to the vibrating member, whereby diametrically opposite edges of the vibrator are caused to oscillate about a line substantially in the center of the vibrating member and at right angles to the axis of the supporting means. 6. In a vibrating device, a casing, a vibrating member, and a resilient support for the vibrating member extending from one side of the casing across the center thereof having the vibrating member attached intermediate its connection with the casing and the point of application of the vibrating force, whereby the edges of the vibratiiigmeinber are free to oscillate about a plane extending substantially through thecenter of the casing.

7. In a vibrator, a casing, a cover for substantially closing a side thereof, means for securing the cover, and means for imparting Y an oscillatory movement to the cover about an axis rextending substantially through av ing member, means for actuating the vibratone open side, a combined vibrator and closure member for said casing substantially closing said side and having all points in its outer surface lying at all times beyond the 5 plane of said open side, and means for imparting oscillatory movements to said member.

9. A vibrator comprising a easing having an open side, means for closing the open side lo constituting an applicator, means for supporting the closing means, and means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the closing means about an axis extending substantially parallel to the outer face thereof l5 and Within the space clened by said outer face and the easing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

VILLIAM BROAD. 

